Five die of suspected dengue in Bihar

Five persons, including four women, died of suspected dengue in Bihar's Munger district, official sources said today.

District Magistrate Avijit Kumar Sinha, who visited the Sadar hospital where two persons died last night and two others today, directed the Civil Surgeon Mukesh Kumar to constitute a medical team to ascertain the cause of the deaths.

The dead were identified as Suryabala Devi, Kiran Devi, Savita Devi and Md Masood, all from Guljar Pokhar area in the town, Sinha said. Another woman from the area also died today of similar symptoms while being rushed to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital in Bhagalpur, sources added.

Kumar said the victims were brought to the hospital with low platelete count, high fever, uneasiness and bodyache. "We are yet to diagnose the reason but the symptoms have raised suspicion about their deaths being caused due to dengue", he said.

The district authorities have sought the help of medical experts from Patna in this connection.